Push-button.



c. AUTH.; riusn BUTTON. A?PLAI`OATI01 YILHD DC. 18, 1009.

985,101.- l 'Patented Fgb.21,1s11.

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I NVENTOH" CHARLES AUTH, or" `NEW YORK, N.

PUSH-BUTTON.

Specification of` Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. v2'1, 1911.

Application led December 18, 1909. Serial No. 533,866.

ments in push buttons for use in automatically closing electric circuits, for giving sig* nals, ringing bells, or the like. Push buttons of this character are commonly set into a wall, table or thelike, so as to present a surface substantially flush with the surface of the wall orother support. The Wires commonly lead from the rear side of the button, so that the only portion visible is the button proper, and possibly, an annular' flange of the casing of the device.l A plurality of push buttons of this character are often employed together, and each button isprovided with a separate legend printed 4or engraved upon the `face of the button proper, the legend serving to indicate the person to 'be called by the pressing of that particular button. It is often necessary to change the naines of the parties designated on the buttons, and each time such change is made, it is necessary to remove the entire button from its recess or cavity in the supporting surface. During the removal and lreplacing of the button within the recess, the

wires often become separated from their connections, and after the button is removed, special tools are usually required to replace the button proper within the casing.

One object of my invention is to so form the terminals that the Iwire cannot become separated from the terminals during the insertion or replacement of the button with. in the cavity, and a further object of the invention is to provide for the rapid and easy removal vof the button proper from the casing, f without necessitating the employment of special tools.

The invention consists in the special features of construction hereinafter defined in the claims, and one embodiment of which is hereinafter described in detail.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts-in all the figures, and in which-' Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through a button constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the button at right angles to the section shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an inner end View of the button; and Fig. 4 is a perspective View of 'the retaining means for the button proper.

In the specific form illustrated, I employ a cylindrical sheet metal casing 10, adapted to fit in a cylindrical opening 1n a` Wall, table or other support, and having at its outer end an outwardly-extending flange 11, adapted to engage with the outer surface of the support and limit the inward movement of the casing. The casing may have portions 12 stamped outwardly therefrom to retard or vrestrict the free removal of the casingfrom its support. Within the'casing and closing the inner end is a transverse wall or' plate 13 of non-conducting material, as, for instance, porcelain or the like, and this inner wall serves to support all of the operating parts going to make up the button'.

Extending outwardly from the under 'or lower surface of the Wall 13, are two studsA 14 and-15, formed of metalor any other" These studs each fit into suitable material.

a recess in the outer surface of the porce* 'lain'wall and preferably have shoulders 16 l for limiting their inward movement. At

their inner ends, each stud may be provided 4 with two tongues 17, 17, which may be bent outwardly as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, so as .to hold the studs firmly in` place. It is, of course, evident that these studs may be secured in place in any other suitable manner. Preferably, the space between the two spaced tongues' 17, 17, is filled with seal# ing wax or other similar compound to more eifectively hold the parts against relative movement. 1 f

Each stud is provided with a screw 18, eX- tending inwardly therethrough and serving to hold in place a combined contact 'and wireretaining member 19. This member is preferably in the form of apiece of sheetv stud. The jscrew 18 extends through the body portion and serves to clamp the lat-V ter rigidly to the stud. At the outer end of the body portion,` there is providedv a tongue or extension 20, normally disposed substan-' tially at right angles to the body portion and extending through an opening 2l in the stud.

adjacent the free end of the lat-ter. In securing the Wires 22 to the studs, the, ends of these wires are 2bared of insulation and are inserted Abetween the' pnte 19- and 'the aua,

and between the screw 18 and thelnger 20.

The freeends Aof the wiresv may then be twisted around' their adjacent'portions and the screws tightened. Even lshould 'the screws become loosened, the wires would. still retained -in place and cannot be readily pulled out. Each` member 19 extends `-through into the wall 13 at. the'inner end of the stud, and through between thet two tongues 17 17. The member thence ex-f 1 tends; outwardly along the inner surface of they stndand terminates in al spring contact 23. -The two spring contacts 23, 23, are disposed adjacent each vother, but. spaced apart, as is v'clearly indicatedin-Figs. 1 and l 3. -Each cont-act' presents an outer curved surface and the space between the two 'cn tacts axial alinement with the body of thebutton.

For closing the circuit between the'two 'contacts 23, 23, I provide a button pro er formed of `any'suitable material, an preferably circular to t within the outer end of the cylindrical shell or casing 10 The button proper is rigidly secured to.a stem formedof metal or other contacting material,

v .and having 4its inner end extending through4 a central opening in'thewall 13 and terminating adjacent to but ."spaced from the spring contacts 23. Beneath .the button proper' and within the-casing, there is provided a coil spring 26, acting to force the button outwardly' after it has been depressed.. For preventing'the end of the spring from 'coming in accidental'contact with eitheror both of the studs, or the contact members 19, there may be employed a plate 27 of insulating material, for lcovering the inner surface ofthe wall 13 and supporting one end of the spring. r

,' One of the most im ortant features of my invention res/tides in t e means employed for vlimiting the movement of the button proper and normally holding it'in the desired position. For accomplishing'this, I preferably provide the stem 27 with a slot 28 extending lengthwise thereofand of a length at least equal to the length of the desired movement of the button proper. One of the studs, for instance, the s'tud 15, carries a button retainer 29 in the form of a pieceof sheet metal having a body portion in engagement whenit is at one end of the slot, the outward movement of the button roper is limited to the desired position. Th which holds thecombined wire retainer and contact member in place, also holds the button-limiting and retaining member 29.

When it is desired to remove the button proper to replace it by a new one, for in- \stance, one bearing a different legend,l it is merely necessary .to loosen the screw 18 and move the member 29 longitudinally. The slot 304 permits this movement, but prevents e same screw 18,

the complete removal or separation of the member. The finger 33 may be moved into or out of the slot 28, to4 retain or liberate the button, as desired, but when the screw 18 is tightened with'the finger in lace, the button proper and itsstem have t ieirA movement .limite d.` Eurthermore, the finger by its engagementm the slot, prevents the rottion' of the button proper, so that the butto'n cannot be accidentally rotated to invert the legend. The-wire 22 is preferablyI held bctweenjt'he wire-retainer 19 and the button controller andretaine'r 29, so that thelatter and the stem 25 are in electric contact with one wire. Thus, the springfcontact 23 on this side might, under some circumstances,

be removed, although preferably 'I employ the two spring contacts, so as to rictionally engage the stem with greater pressure and provide `for a better and direct passage of the current upon .the ressing of hthe button.

It isof course, evi ent that certain of the features hreinbefore described, may be employed independently of other features, and

that various changes may be made in the de tails of construction and the arrangement of parts, without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus `described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent: y

1. A'push button havingy a casing provided With a transverse wall, a button proper having a stem movable through said Wall, a retainer adjacent the surface of said wall and normallyT in engagement with said stem, to preventl the removal of the .latter from the casing,'a stud carried by said Wall, a wire, `and a Screw serving to secure said wire to said stud and' tohold rsaid retainer against longitudinal movement.`

2. In combination, a casing, a transverse wall, a stud extending therefrom, and a spring contact member carried by 4said ,stud and having a tongue extending through an opening in said stud, a wire, and a set screw for securing the contact member to the stud and clamping the wire, therebetween. y

3. A push button having a casing, a transl verse Wall, a stud carried by said wall, a button proper having a stem extending through said wall, a spring contact member disposed adjacent. to said Wall and in the path of said stem, a retainer for engagement with said stem to limit the movement of the latter, and a set screw for securing said retainer and said contact member to said stud.

4. A push button having a easing, a transverse Wall, a stud carried by said Wall, a button proper having a stem extending through said Wall, a spring contact member disposed adjacent to said Wall and in the path of said stem, a retainer for engagement With said stem to limit the movement of the latter, and a set screw for securing said retainer and said Contact member to said stud, said contact member having' a finger for retaining said wire in engagement with said Stud.

A push button having a casing provided' with a transverse Wall or partition, two studs rigidly secured thereto, spring contact members secured to said studs, and a button properhaving a stem' terminating adother and screws 'threaded vinto said studs and serving to hold wires between said con-` tact members andl said studs. 6. A push button lia-ving' a button proper, a stem thereon, means for limiting the longitudinal movement :of said stem, a stud; a wire, and a screw serving to secure said Wire to said stud and to hold said means against displacement.

ln testimony whereof I have 'signed my nameY to thisspeciiication in the presence of tiro subscribing Witnesses. CHARLES AUTH. 4

Witnesses: f

ALBERT H. TEALE, C. F. DOHRMANN.' 

